Chapter 1: Ascension to Immortal Realm
Wudang Mountain, formerly known as Taihe Mountain, is located in the northwest of Hubei Province, within the territory of Shiyan City. It is one of China's famous Taoist holy lands. The scenic area covers an ancient name "square and round 800 miles", now with 312 square kilometers. Wudang Mountain not only has unique and beautiful natural scenery but also rich and colorful humanistic scenery. Wudang Mountain has a unique mountain shape, with one peak holding up the sky and many peaks surrounding it, having both the majesty of Mount Tai and the danger of Mount Hua. The cliffs, deep valleys, secluded caves, and clear springs are scattered all over the place, with 3 ponds, 9 springs, 11 caves, 24 streams, 36 cliffs, and 72 peaks. Since ancient times, Wudang Mountain has been the ideal place for Taoists to pursue immortality. Taoist buildings are spread throughout the mountain, with a grand scale, and it is said that in ancient times, Xuanwu achieved enlightenment and ascended here. Therefore, it is praised as "the unparalleled scenery of all ages, the first fairy mountain under heaven".
Feisheng Cliff is known as the first fairyland of Wudang, located on the west side of Nanxian Palace. Feisheng Cliff has a peak that rises abruptly, with three sides being steep cliffs, and there is a small road on the mountain ridge that leads directly to the summit, where one can gaze out at the magnificent view of the 72 peaks of Wudang facing Dazhen Peak.
According to legend, the young Xuanwu Emperor practiced here. He meditated for decades, his heart as still as an ancient well, sitting like a pine tree, and even when birds built nests on his head, he didn't move. One day, when Xuanwu's Taoist practice was about to be completed, the Purple Energy Primordial Lord descended to test him. The Primordial Lord transformed into a beautiful woman to comb Xuanwu's hair, but Xuanwu avoided her and escaped to a rock on the cliff... The beauty was ashamed and jumped down from the ten-thousand-foot deep chasm, and when Xuanwu saw this, he also jumped down to save her. At that time, five dragons rose into the air in the valley, supporting Xuanwu as he ascended to heaven. Later generations built the "Hairdressing Platform" here based on the legend of Xuanwu's practice and ascension, and called the giant rock protruding from the cliff "Heart-Testing Rock".
Right above the "Trial Heart Stone", there is a hidden paradise that no one knows about, which is actually the place where the legendary Xuanwu Emperor cultivates. However, it has been arranged with a Yin-Yang reversal five-element array, and ordinary people can't see it, even if they are highly cultivated immortals who haven't opened their heavenly eyes, they won't be able to detect any anomalies!
In the sky, five semi-transparent peaks of Bai Zang Mountain floated, with various gems, crystals and jade scattered all over the mountain slopes, radiating dazzling light under the sun. A majestic waterfall cascaded down from the top of the mountain, forming a crystal-clear lake at the foot of the mountain. The gentle breeze brought flying water droplets that drifted away with the wind, bringing coolness to the valley. The valley surrounded by the five peaks was hundreds of hectares in size, and everywhere in the valley could be seen ginseng as tall as adults, thousand-year-old He Shou Wu, and many strange plants that even the most famous botanists today couldn't name. Small flowers of various colors continuously emitted a faint fragrance that refreshed the heart. The spotted deer roamed leisurely in the valley, while tigers, which humans had always thought were ferocious and cruel, also strolled peacefully in the valley with kind faces. Rainbow-colored long-winged birds and white cranes flew freely in the sky above the valley. In the center of the valley stood a simple thatched cottage.
In front of the thatched cottage stood two Taoist priests. From a distance, the two men standing in the center of the valley didn't seem out of place at all; everything looked so natural, as if they were originally part of the valley. Both wore green Taoist robes and had their hair tied up high. The priest on the left was slender and had an ordinary appearance, like a boy from next door. His only distinctive feature was his crystal-clear skin, which was as white as porcelain, making even girls grit their teeth in envy! The priest on the right, with a more robust build, had a majestic presence, with a tortoise-shaped skull, large ears and round eyes, and a beard that resembled a halberd. He was none other than Zhang Sanfeng, the founder of the Wudang Sect.
Zhang Sanfeng, also known as Zhang the Carefree, was the founder of the Wudang Sect and a master of martial arts. He later became a Taoist and was referred to as Zhang the Immortal.
In his early years, Zhang traveled extensively throughout China, righting wrongs and fighting for justice. Later, he visited Mount Wudang and discovered its unique energy, so he settled there with his disciples and built a hut to cultivate his spiritual practice.
After leaving Mount Wudang, Zhang was never seen again by the public. During the late years of Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang's reign, when he fell ill, he sought out Zhang Sanfeng to concoct an elixir for him. In 1391, he sent people to search for Zhang but to no avail.
Later, during the early years of Ming Chengzu Zhu Di's reign, he dispatched officials to search for Zhang with a imperial edict, but after ten years, they still could not find him. According to legend, Zhang Sanfeng may have already achieved enlightenment and ascended to heaven.
Under the guidance of Zhang Sanfeng's four main disciples - Lu Qiuyun, Zhou Zhende, Liu Guquan, and Yang Shandeng, also known as the Four Immortals of Harmony - the Wudang internal fist, swordsmanship, qigong, and five-element Taoist practices that he created were all developed and popularized.
Later on, the Wudang Sect rose to prominence, surpassing other schools, and was revered alongside Shaolin, earning it the nickname "Northern Shaolin, Southern Wudang".
"Ah, my disciple, I have been cultivating here for nearly six hundred years and finally understood the Heavenly Way!" Zhang Sanfeng gazed into the distance with a sigh. "Now you too have broken through to the Nascent Soul stage, becoming the first genius in the history of the Cultivation World to enter the Nascent Soul stage before the age of one hundred. From now on, time can no longer threaten your life; as long as you continue to cultivate diligently, there will come a day when you too can see through the Heavenly Way like I do, shattering the void and leaving!"
"Master, the disciple still needs you to be by his side and teach him at all times, don't go, okay!" The Taoist priest, who was called Duan Er, looked at his master with red-rimmed eyes, reluctant to part with the one who had taught and nurtured him for a hundred years like it was just one day.
"Foolish child! Master will eventually leave, and you must also continue on your own path! The road is long and winding, I will search high and low! Alas, those few senior brothers of yours are no longer here!" Zhang Sanfeng couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness as he saw his hundred-year-old disciple so reluctant to let go. He reached out and gently patted the disciple's shoulder.
His thoughts drifted back to 1900, by the West Lake. When his most beloved and talented disciple, Yang Shandeng, failed to break through to the Yuan Ying period despite his high hopes for him, he eventually left Zhang Sanfeng. After cultivating for hundreds of years, Zhang Sanfeng could no longer maintain a calm heart and left his Flying Ascension Cliff Cave, wandering the four seas.
Unexpectedly, by the West Lake, he picked up an abandoned infant, who also helped to soothe his sorrowful heart. Since he didn't know the child's surname, and because he was found by the lake, Zhang Sanfeng decided to let him take his own surname, naming him Hu Pan, with the Daoist name Yun Ming.
From then on, Zhang Hu Pan became Zhang Sanfeng's closed-door disciple, learning medicine, martial arts, and the Way of Heaven from him. Zhang Sanfeng hoped that when he eventually passed away, Zhang Hu Pan would be able to inherit his legacy. Zhang Hu Pan did not disappoint his expectations, breaking through the Yuan Ying period on his hundredth birthday, a feat almost impossible for cultivators.
Zhang Sanfeng's four great disciples, Lu Qiuyun, Zhou Zhende, Liu Guquan, and Yang Shandeng, also known as the Tahe Four Immortals, were unable to break through the Yuan Ying period despite their lifelong efforts. They eventually succumbed to fate and left Zhang Sanfeng one by one.
The boundaries of cultivation are divided into four major realms: 'qi', 'dan', 'yuan' and 'shen'. Among them, there are further divisions into 12 small realms: 'yin qi', 'ning qi', 'hua qi', 'niu dan', 'ning dan', 'sui dan', 'yuan ying', 'cheng ying', 'po ying', 'fen shen', 'yang shen' and 'po xu'. Each of these small realms is further divided into three stages: initial, middle and late. Once a cultivator reaches the stage of 'yin qi', it means they have already transcended from the mundane to the transcendental realm, and their lifespan will be greatly extended, allowing them to live for around 200 years. The three small realms of 'niu dan', 'ning dan' and 'sui dan' signify entry into the Golden Elixir Great Way, which is a high level of cultivation, with a lifespan that can be extended to 500-600 years. The realm of 'yuan ying' is a major threshold in cultivation, and once crossed, it means one has become a semi-immortal, with a lifespan that is no longer threatened, even if the physical body is destroyed, as long as the yuan shen (primordial spirit) remains intact. However, only those who are exceptionally talented and have extremely good fortune can cultivate to this level. Even someone like Zhang Sanfeng's four great disciples, Lu Qiuyun, Zhou Zhende, Liu Guquan and Yang Shandeng, with their excellent qualifications as cultivators, could only stop at the Golden Elixir Great Way and were unable to enter the true path of immortality.
Zhang Huban not only had exceptional innate talent, but also extremely good luck. As an infant, he received the careful guidance of the great master Zhang Sanfeng, and from a young age, he cultivated in the lush and spiritual mountains, consuming countless divine elixirs and medicines! This allowed him to enter the Yuan Ying period at the age of 100, which is considered one of the greatest miracles in the realm of cultivation.
A clear and crisp bird cry brought Zhang Sanfeng back to reality. Turning his head, he saw the reluctant expression on Zhang Hu's face, and in his heart, Zhang Sanfeng was extremely reluctant to part with this young apprentice whom he had watched grow up since childhood. "Alas!" Zhang Sanfeng sighed softly, unable to bear seeing his apprentice so heartbroken, and said: "Hu'er, actually, as long as you also cultivate to the point of breaking through the void, there will be a day when we can meet again!"
Zhang Huban knew that in fact, fifty years ago, Zhang Sanfeng had already reached the realm of breaking emptiness. However, for his own sake, he waited another fifty years. Now that he has finally entered the initial stage of Yuan Ying, Master has moved with the intention of leaving. Although he is extremely reluctant to part with Master, he also knows in his heart that breaking through the void and pursuing the highest heavenly way has always been Master's greatest wish. Zhang Huban knew that he could not stop Master, and a hundred years of cultivation could no longer control the appearance of tears.
"Master, you must take good care of yourself on your journey! I wish you a smooth and safe trip!" Zhang Huban said with a choked voice.
Sorrow and joy, perhaps the most formidable weapons in the world, not even gods can escape their sharp blades. Although he knew he couldn't avoid Zhang Hu's divine consciousness, which had already reached the Yuanying realm, Zhang Sanfeng quietly turned his head to one side, gently wiping away tears, and then pretended as if nothing had happened, saying: "Hu'er, although you have already cultivated to the early stages of Yuanying, you grew up in this mountain valley from a young age, never experiencing worldly life, nor tasting the sweetness and bitterness of the world. This is extremely unfavorable for your future cultivation. You are now over 100 years old, but your heart is still as pure and innocent as a child's. Although this kind of heart allows you to focus on your cultivation in the early stages, achieving twice the result with half the effort, it will not allow you to progress further if you haven't experienced the world's joys and sorrows. Your Dao heart will be unable to eliminate the interference of the demonic thoughts that arise during cultivation. So, after I break through to the void and leave, you should leave here and go back to the mortal world to gain some experience!"
